Jerry Van Dyke (left) with brother Dick Van Dyke
Comedian and actor Jerry Van Dyke is the younger brother of Dick Van
Dyke who is also a comedian and actor. Jerry made his acting debut on
The Dick Van Dyke Show on CBS-TV from 1961 to 1966. Later in his
career, he was one of the stars in the ABC- TV sitcom Coach 1989 to
1997.
From left: Jerry Van Dyke, Bill Fagerbakke and Craig T. Nelson
A Horse With No Name” was the first and most successful single, released by
the band America in early 1972, topping the charts in several countries. It
was certified “gold” by the Recording Industry Association of America.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Dan Peek, a founding member of the popular 1970s band
America and singer of high harmonies on hits that included “A Horse With No
Name” and “Ventura Highway,” has died, his father Milton said Tuesday. He
was 60.
Peek’s wife, Catherine, found him dead Sunday in bed in his home in Farmington,
Mo., about 60 miles southwest of St. Louis. The cause of death was not known,
and an autopsy was planned.
Bobbie Gentry (Roberta Lee Streeter), is a former singer-songwriter known
for the intriguing Southern Gothic narrative “Ode to Billie Joe” in 1967. The
song earned her Grammy awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop
Vocal Performance in 1968. Bobbie charted eleven singles on the Billboard
Hot 100 chart. Her album Fancy brought her a Grammy for Best Female Pop
Vocal Performance. She had a successful run in Las Vegas in the late 1970s
and has since stoped performing and lives privately in Los Angeles.
A summer series replacement for “The Dean Martin Show”, was “The Bobby
Darin Amusement Company”, produced by Saul Illson and Ernest Chambers
(“The Smothers Broghers Comedy Hour”). The NBC-TV show featured regulars
Steve Landesburg, Dick Bakalyan and Rip Taylor. The guests on the first show
in 1972 were George Burns, Bobby Gentry and Burt Reynolds. “The Bobby
Darin Amusement Company” ran until his death in 1973.
A medley of "Splish Splash", "Rockin’ in the USA", and "Roll
Over Beethoven" performed by Bobby Darin as the final
number for his last television show taped on April 27, 1973.
